Researching Practice and Practicing Research Reflexively : Conceptualizing the Relationship Between Research Partners and Researchers in Longitudinal Studies
Journal
Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung
ISSN
1438-5627
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2010-09-30
Author(s)
Abstract
Reflexivity has gained considerable significance in organization studies over the last decade. The discussion provides significant insight into interpreting one's findings and into presenting them to the academic community. But, the relationship between research partners in practice and researchers remains less in focus. Nevertheless, it provides the foundation from which data and interpretations emerge. To provide an orientation, this paper aims to develop a methodological heuristic inspired by social systems theory to conceptualize the relational foundation of longitudinal research. This "reflexive system theory heuristic" is illustrated empirically by reconstructing the research process of a longitudinal single case study on a change process in a hospital. The heuristic helps to observe and explain the dynamic relationship in the field and to explicitly acknowledge the status of empirical findings when understanding research as a generative activity. The heuristic conceptualizes the researched and research practices as communication systems, thus consistently developing a reflexive approach for field research. By taking into account the practice as well as the academic context, the heuristic can be extended to the insights drawn from the discussion on reflexivity. For social systems research on organizations, the heuristic provides a starting point to foster a methodological discussion.
Language
English
Keywords
organizational change
methodology
social systems theory: reflexivity
longitudinal studies
process perspective
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Freie Univ. Berlin
Publisher place
Berlin
Volume
11
Number
3 Art. 14
Start page
1
End page
31
Pages
35
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
69450
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
open.access
Name
Tuckermann_Rueegg-Stuerm_2010_Research Practice.pdf
Size
292.41 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
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